Delivers strategic leadership and operational oversight for the designated program or department, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering a high-performing team environment. Responsible for setting clear objectives, allocating resources efficiently, and driving initiatives that enhance productivity, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration. Monitors performance metrics, identifies areas for improvement, and implements corrective actions to optimize outcomes. Serves as the primary liaison between senior leadership and the program/department, communicating progress, challenges, and strategic priorities. Ensures compliance with policies, industry regulations, and best practices while maintaining a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous development.
Mercy Corps is in search of a Finance & Compliance Director to oversee the anticipated FCDO-funded Land Border Program. East Africa continues to face a multifaceted and intensifying issue with irregular migration and related criminal activity, resulting in severe exploitation of vulnerable individuals in transit. The forthcoming East Africa Land Border Program will adopt a comprehensive strategy, encompassing prevention, preparation and protection, as well as enforcement measures. A key objective of this initiative is to combat human traffickers and smugglers who prey on vulnerable populations. Initial activities will focus on Kenya’s border regions, with a gradual and planned expansion into Uganda, Ethiopia, and potentially Somalia.
General Position Summary
The Finance & Compliance Director will offer strategic leadership and guidance to the finance, grants, and finance officers, ensuring rigorous quality control and meticulous oversight of the program’s financial operations, encompassing financial analysis and accounting management. This role entails maintaining robust financial stewardship of the program and its related awards, fostering collaboration across international teams and partner organizations to guarantee timely, budget-conscious, and policy-compliant delivery in accordance with Mercy Corps’ and FCDO standards. The program is scheduled to launch in early May 2026, with a duration of three years, and the position will be headquartered in Nairobi.
Responsibilities include the development and execution of strategic plans, along with overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Key duties involve analyzing performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective measures where necessary. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is required to drive initiatives forward, while also assessing risks and mitigating potential challenges. Additionally, the role involves preparing comprehensive reports to communicate progress, outcomes, and recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders. A strong understanding of industry best practices and compliance standards is essential to maintain operational excellence.
Our role entails developing and executing strategic initiatives that shape the organization’s long-term direction, ensuring alignment with overarching business goals. You will collaborate with senior leadership to identify opportunities for growth, assess market trends, and refine strategic priorities to drive sustainable performance. Key responsibilities include conducting comprehensive market and competitive analyses, leading cross-functional planning sessions, and translating insights into actionable business strategies. Additionally, you will monitor key performance indicators to evaluate progress, adjust tactics as needed, and communicate strategic recommendations to stakeholders at all levels. This position demands strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence decision-making across the enterprise.
Lead the multi-year budgeting process at the program’s inception, ensuring meticulous updates throughout each fiscal year. Incorporate insights from a broad spectrum of program stakeholders, such as outcome leads, country leads, international and local partners, and headquarters and regional support teams.
Develop and implement comprehensive, proactive oversight systems to effectively monitor diverse countries, partners, and individual awards throughout the entire duration of the program.
Overseeing the organization’s financial resources, the role involves meticulous planning, directing, and coordinating all financial activities to ensure fiscal stability and growth. Key responsibilities include preparing and analyzing financial statements, managing budgets, and optimizing cash flow to meet strategic objectives. The position requires a keen understanding of financial regulations, risk management, and investment strategies, coupled with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, along with relevant certifications such as CPA or CFA. Proven experience in financial leadership, preferably within a corporate or nonprofit setting, is essential. Proficiency in financial software and advanced Excel skills are mandatory, while exceptional communication abilities are needed to present complex financial information to stakeholders.
Collaborate with the Senior Program Manager and partners to create and revise the annual fiscal year budgets, adjusting to modifications in the budget ceiling as needed.
Engage actively in ABB calls with the donor, oversee an up-to-date Activity-Based Budget for the program, perform monthly ABB reviews, and deliver biweekly reports and forecasts to FCDO—ensuring precision in aligning forecasts with actual budget expenditures.
Review and analyze all financial plans and budgets, tracking progress and any modifications. Identify discrepancies or concerns and collaborate with senior management to address and resolve them promptly.
Design and implement comprehensive financial systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls for the program, ensuring they remain aligned with evolving regulations and industry best practices across all implementation countries, and adapt them proactively to address changing requirements.
Ensure comprehensive oversight of the program’s annual financial audits while verifying full compliance from partners and subgrantees with all mandated audit and financial review obligations.
Regularly evaluate the performance and efficacy of financial procedures, subsequently developing and implementing strategic plans to enhance both efficiency and effectiveness. These efforts aim to minimize operational and compliance risks while ensuring the timely completion of technical activities at the most cost-effective levels.
Develop and uphold robust frameworks to facilitate the efficient and transparent allocation and utilization of financial resources, ensuring timely and insightful reporting that aligns with program objectives, FCDO mandates, and Mercy Corps’ strategic priorities.
Ensure adherence to all financial, compliance, and sub-grant management policies and procedures as stipulated by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Mercy Corps.
Finance conducts thorough reviews of payment requests and financial vouchers, ensuring compliance with the prescribed authority matrix limits.
We are seeking a skilled Grant Management professional to oversee the administration, compliance, and strategic execution of grant-funded programs. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and submitting grant proposals, ensuring adherence to funding agency guidelines, and managing relationships with sponsors and stakeholders. Additionally, the position requires meticulous tracking of grant expenditures, monitoring of program performance, and timely reporting maintaining compliance with regulatory and organizational standards. Strong attention to detail, proficiency in grant management software, and the ability to collaborate across departments are essential for success in this position.
Oversee the guidance and support of grants and finance officers to ensure that grants and subcontracts are issued and administered in full compliance with Mercy Corps and FDC policies.
Review all Requests for Approval (RFA’s) and coordinate with Senior Program Management, the Implementation and Partnership Manager, and the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to obtain necessary approvals.
Responsible for directing the grant management processes, guaranteeing that reports and advances to partners are submitted and approved in a timely manner.
Responsible for supervising the creation and administration of sub-partner grants and contracts, providing expert recommendations on the most appropriate grant or contract structure for each collaborating organization.
Develop and implement activity or milestone budgets with precision, while maintaining a comprehensive master compilation of partner budgets.
Demonstrate leadership throughout the grants close-out process and the disposition of partner assets.
The position requires strong administrative and compliance skills, ensuring all processes adhere to regulatory standards and internal policies. Key responsibilities include maintaining accurate records, preparing compliance reports, and supporting audit activities. The ideal candidate must have experience in administrative support, a solid understanding of compliance frameworks, and meticulous attention to detail. Proficiency in relevant software and excellent organizational abilities are essential for this role.
Handle immediate client inquiries, which may entail creating budget scenarios, developing scopes of work, and executing additional related duties as required.
Collaborate closely with the Senior Program Manager and MCE to develop and finalize FCDO deliverables, such as the Quarterly Financial Report, Inventory and Asset Report, and Annual Value Added Tax Report.
Execute all additional responsibilities as directed by the Senior Program Manager, ensuring alignment with project objectives and organizational priorities.
Review and create routine as well as ad hoc requests for reports to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), covering areas such as inventory disposition, local tax obligations, and activity budgets, among others.
Demonstrate leadership by overseeing donor spot checks and promptly resolving any discrepancies that may arise.
Responsible for directing and guiding a group of employees to achieve organizational goals efficiently, ensuring each team member understands their role and contributes effectively towards collective success. Develops strategies to enhance team performance, fosters a collaborative work environment, and provides mentorship to support professional growth. Evaluates individual and team progress, addresses performance gaps, and implements improvements as needed. Collaborates with other departments to align team objectives with broader company initiatives. Requires strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, along with experience in team supervision and performance management.
Oversee the daily operations of team members, clarifying their responsibilities and fostering their growth through targeted coaching, constructive feedback, and both technical and administrative assistance to help them achieve performance goals.
Facilitate a culture of accountability by establishing clear expectations and delivering both informal and formal constructive feedback through consistent one-on-one interactions and structured performance evaluations.
Foster a collaborative work environment grounded in mutual respect, empowering team members to consistently pursue and uphold excellence.
Recruit, onboard, and provide leadership to team members as required.
The role involves ensuring the protection and security of individuals, assets, and information against potential risks or threats. Key responsibilities include implementing and maintaining robust safety protocols, conducting regular risk assessments, and addressing any concerns promptly. Candidates must possess strong attention to detail, a keen understanding of compliance regulations, and the ability to respond effectively to emergencies. Prior experience in risk management, security operations, or a related field is highly desirable.
Professionally acquires and applies safeguarding knowledge, incorporating an understanding of safeguarding risks and mitigation strategies relevant to their specific role.
Demonstrates unwavering commitment to Mercy Corps’ core values by fostering an environment that upholds the dignity and well-being of all participants and colleagues alike.
Fosters an environment of transparency and open dialogue within the team by actively encouraging members to voice any concerns through available reporting channels, such as the Integrity Hotline and other designated methods.
Overseeing a team and managing their performance are central aspects of this role, ensuring that all team members meet organizational objectives and maintain high productivity levels. Responsibilities include delegating tasks, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a collaborative work environment to drive collective success. This position requires strong leadership skills, the ability to mentor employees, and a commitment to developing team capabilities. Additionally, the role involves monitoring workflows, addressing performance concerns, and implementing strategies to optimize team efficiency and output.
Grants and Finance Officers play a crucial role in managing financial resources and ensuring compliance with funding requirements. They oversee the preparation, submission, and reporting of grant proposals, meticulously tracking expenditures and verifying alignment with donor guidelines. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in financial management software are essential, along with a keen attention to detail and adherence to regulatory standards. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, they provide financial insights to support strategic decision-making and maintain transparency in fund utilization. A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, along with relevant certifications and prior experience in grant administration, are typically required for this position.
Holds team members responsible for their actions, decisions, and outcomes, ensuring adherence to established standards, policies, and performance metrics while fostering a culture of ownership and integrity within the organization.
Reports to the Senior Program Manager, with a secondary reporting line to the country’s finance lead.
Serves as the primary liaison with the Implementation and Partnership Manager, Program Outcome leads, program partners and sub-awardees, as well as with the Headquarters and Regional Finance and Compliance teams.
Ensures responsibility and transparency in all engagements with participants and stakeholders, maintaining high standards of integrity and responsiveness to their needs and concerns.
Mercy Corps expects its team members to uphold accountability in all aspects of their roles, prioritizing program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and compliance with international relief and development standards. Our organization is dedicated to fostering collaborative relationships with communities, treating them as equal partners throughout the design, monitoring, and evaluation phases of field projects.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field along with demonstrated skills that are applicable across different roles and industries.
A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in accounting or finance is mandatory, with a preference for candidates holding an advanced degree.
A recognized certification equivalent to the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation in Kenya (CPA(K)) is required.
Seeking a seasoned professional with a minimum of fifteen years of advancing financial management expertise, where at least five of those years encompassed leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
A minimum of four years of professional experience in grants management, coupled with a comprehensive grasp of FCDO grant and contract regulations, is essential.
A minimum of three years of international experience is required, preferably involving work with international NGOs or Pros in field offices, and including assignments in remote, high-risk environments.
Proven expertise in budget preparation, analysis, and financial reporting, including the skill to interpret complex financial data into clear, insightful reports. Candidates should have experience with ABB (Activity-Based Budgeting) format, if possible, and a strong ability to communicate financial insights effectively.
Demonstrated leadership in a managerial capacity along with exceptional ability to organize tasks and resources effectively.
Proficiency in utilizing advanced features of Microsoft Office applications, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Excel, is essential.
Proficient in both verbal and written communication, adept at managing multiple tasks, and possessing strong organizational and prioritization abilities.
Fluent proficiency in both spoken and written English is essential.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and adaptability when collaborating with a multicultural team in a nuanced and delicate setting.
Individuals with a proven track record of thriving in high-risk or unsecure environments are encouraged to apply. Experience in such settings, where safety protocols may be limited or unpredictable, is highly valued. Candidates should possess the ability to assess risks swiftly and adapt strategies accordingly to mitigate potential threats. Familiarity with security best practices and crisis management procedures is also advantageous. Prior to work in conflict zones, unstable regions, or areas with limited infrastructure is particularly relevant.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
15 years
